I think giving importance to that is age related, I used to feel the conversation is dry or something is wrong without emoticones, now I'm older and my friends, my boyfriend, and me rarely use them, and our conversations are fun

I don't know if age matters, me and my bf are both 25 yrs. old, we also use emoticons, and if someone is not using it, means someone is serious or has a problem. But if it bothers you be honest with her, because for us, it is obvious that there is something wrong when one is not using it.